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https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jun/11/brian-wilson-beach-boys-dies>
"Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys musician, songwriter and producer who created
some of history’s most purely beautiful pop music, has died aged 82.
In a post shared on Instagram on Wednesday, Wilson’s family wrote: “We are
heartbroken to announce that our beloved father Brian Wilson has passed away.
We are at a loss for words right now. Please respect our privacy at this time
as our family is grieving. We realize that we are sharing our grief with the
world. Love & Mercy.”
Wilson’s Beach Boys bandmates paid tribute to “the soul of our sound” on
Wednesday, writing: “The world mourns a genius today, and we grieve for the
loss of our cousin, our friend, and our partner in a great musical adventure.
“The melodies he dreamed up and the emotions he poured into every note changed
the course of music forever. His unparalleled talent and unique spirit created
the soundtrack of so many lives around the globe, including our own,” they
continued.
“Together, we gave the world the American dream of optimism, joy, and a sense
of freedom — music that made people feel good, made them believe in summer and
endless possibilities.”
As the leading creative force in the Beach Boys, Wilson crafted a variously
carefree and melancholy sound that came to define the uncertain utopianism of
mid-century California. Using ambitious studio techniques to give the band’s
music a thrilling grandeur, his songs about surfing, driving, girls and the pep
of youth modulated to more reflective and often psychedelic material, resulting
in one of the most highly regarded catalogues of American song. The Beach Boys’
1966 album
Pet Sounds – written and produced almost entirely by Wilson – is
seen not only as the group’s masterpiece, but for many is the greatest album of
all time."
RIP,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
